Summary translation

The cultivation of grain legumes is much more important for organic farms than for conventional farms. Whereas cultivation of spring types of peas, beans, lupins and soya is well established in Germany, cultivation of winter types is almost completely unknown. 3 varieties of winter beans and 3 varieties of winter peas were sawn in 20 organic farms all over Germany. The varieties of beans were “Göttinger Population”, Silver and Target, the varieties of peas were EFB 33, Assas (both leaf types) and Iceberg (a semi-leafless type). Temperatures, winter hardiness, time of flowering, straw stability, time of maturity and yield were measured or estimated by the farmers. Because of the unfavourable climatic conditions with wet sawing, hard frosts and changing frosts in March there were losses of many plants up to losses of complete locations. Winter peas were better than winter beans in average. Best variety of winter peas was EFB 33 ahead of Assas and Iceberg, best variety of winter beans was Göttinger Population ahead of Silver and Target. The surviving plants of Göttinger Population mean a clear selection toward better winter hardiness. We keep on working with these plants. Further observations of the trial were that a later sowing time in autumn has led to complete losses. Sparse stocks of winter peas were able to compensate yield by generating more lateral shoots. The straw stability of winter pea variety EFB 33 with long straw was worse than expected, with the result of changing proportion of mixture with rye now. Because of slow growth in spring there were serious problems with pea moth in contrast to earlier years. Watching our trial in various inspections several farmers have begun growing winter peas and several research institutes have started trials for harvest 2004. Having lost a lot of winter beans material because of winter we have to rebuild that first, so that it will take some years to offer farmers enough seed with sufficient winter hardiness.